An exclusive installation from the Red Centre’s spectacular Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is coming to Melbourne for the very first time. Enjoy a taste of this immersive Aboriginal light festival in this free pop-up event. See the immersive Parrtjima installation, Grounded, at Fed Square from March 10 to 11.
Grounded at Fed Square
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is the only Aboriginal event of its kind in the world. It showcases the oldest continuous cultures on Earth through new technology against the backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory. And now, it’s leaving the Red Centre for the very first time, giving us a glimpse of what it’s like at this exciting festival.
For two nights only, Fed Square will showcase the installation, Grounded. This installation transforms Indigenous artworks and stories into a large-scale animated sequence. Accompanied by an atmospheric soundscape, the animations are projected onto the ground, encouraging visitors to interact with it and become a piece of the artwork itself.
Discover the Dreamtime stories and song lines presented by 12 artists. Artists include Sharon Alice, Marina Pumani Brown, Anne Dixon, Hannah Nungarrayi, Serena Hayes, Annette Nungala, Roseanna Larry, Mary James, June Smith, Corban Clause Williams, Cassaria Young Hogan and Isaac Girrabul.
The immersive soundscapes were composed by Damian Robinson, Wicked Beat Sound System and Rhyan Clapham, aka DOBBY.
“It is wonderful to expand the reach of the Parrtjima Festival and give additional exposure to the amazing Aboriginal artists who contribute every year,” said Rhoda Roberts AO, Parrtjima Curator. “The festival is a wonderful public event and it is also very significant in helping provide economic pathways for our Indigenous artists. Grounded is an exciting and contemporary way to enjoy Aboriginal art. It’s experiential and engaging and people respond really well to that.”
Experience Grounded in the Main Square from 8pm to 11pm on Friday March 10 and Saturday March 11.
More about Parrtjima
If you enjoy this pop-up experience in Melbourne, why don’t you think about flying over to Alice Springs and experiencing this dazzling festival in person?
The theme this year is Listening with Heart, and it embodies the idea of coming together and taking the time to contemplate and reflect. The festival will take place across ten nights, and feature plenty of artworks, installations, music, workshops and more. It’s on from April 7 to 16. Find out more here.